1. Are yourcookies gluten free?
Yes! The national standard for gluten free is less than 20 ppm. Our cookies are laboratory tested for less than 5 ppm. Our cookies are tested every week to guarantee less than 5 ppm. We are very strict about using our own gluten free utensils and work surfaces
2. What kind of protein is in the cookies?
Non GMO soy protein. Some people find that soy protein is easier to digest than whey protein. Peanut butter, almond flour, and oat flour also have added protein.
3. How much of the cookie price actually goes to Team Orphans?
Great question! Rebecca Cruttenden, the owner of Clara Cookies does not take any salary and is run 100% by volunteers. All of the profit after the cost of ingredients, packaging, and shipping goes toward the adoption grants. Rebecca's goal is to raise as much money as possible for adoption. Many of the services for the start up costs were donated or provided at a discounted rate. Many individuals also donated to help fund the start-up costs. They did this to support adoption, knowing that they wouldn't get paid back. In the first two years, we already sent $3,000 in profit to Team Orphans! In the past 5 years, we have donated over $10,000. Want to volunteer? Email Rebecca today at Rebecca@claracookies.com.
4. Why is sugar listed high on the ingredient list? Do the cookies have that much sugar?
The ingredients are listed in order of greatest weight to least weight. Sugar weighs more that all types of flour. For example, 1/2 cup of sugar weighs a lot more than 1 cup of tapioca flour or 1 cup of oat flour. Each coconut cookie has only 1 1/2 tsp of sugar. Our unsweetened applesauce also contains natural sugar. Our Dark Chocolate Chips also have some sugar in them.
5. Why are the cookies high in fat?
The peanut butter cookies are loaded with peanut butter, which provide the same amount of fat as a handful of trail mix. For our coconut and dark chocolate cookies, we use organic coconut oil, a wonderful fat that provides many health benefits. Our Certified Organic Coconut Oils are the best coconut oils available anywhere in the world. All of the coconuts used for these oils are grown and processed organically, without the use of fertilizers, chemical solvents or additives.Our coconut oils are made from the first pressing of fresh coconut without the addition of any chemicals. They retain the light taste of coconuts and are never refined, bleached or deodorized. Virgin Coconut oils are never exposed to solvents. Because of the special, careful way in which they are produced, they are a little more expensive, but most health-conscious people feel the extra expense is worth it.Unrefined coconut oil actually improves blood lipid profiles, significantly reduces Total and LDL cholesterol, oxidized LDL, triglycerides and increased HDL (the good) cholesterol, has favorable effects on blood coagulation factors and antioxidant status. Medium chain triglycerides (the fats in coconut oil) have also been shown to reduce blood triglycerides compared to long chain fats.Coconut oil may be protective against heart disease, not the other way around.( https://authoritynutrition.com/why-is-coconut-oil-good-for-you/)
6. Do all of your cookies contain nuts?
No, the lemon poppy seed cookies are completely nut free. The coconut, dark chocolate, orange cranberry, Snickerdoodle and lemon cookies have almond flour. The peanut butter cookies have only peanut, no tree nuts. We use organic coconut oil, a wonderful fat the provides many health benefits, in all of our cookies except Peanut Butter.